Things to do in October...

Welcome to Autumn, Food First-ers!

Here are a few events to add to your calendar for October.

Courtesy of: https://gwfoodconnection.wordpress.com/events/

What: Sally Ann's Healthy Eating Kitchen

When: Monday, October 3, 11:30am - 2:00pm
Where: 3213 Fraser Street, Vancouver
Why: To learn cooking skills, nutritional and food safety information, & budgeting tips
Registration Required: Call Chelsea Marsh (604-872-7676)
Cost: FREE

Courtesy of: http://ca-en.naturespath.com/about/movements/eat-well-do-good

What: 8th Annual Eat Well Do Good Foodraiser
When: Tuesday, October 4th, 7:00am - 3:00pm
Where: Robson Square & London Drugs (Granville & W. Georgia)
Why: To combat hunger by raising money for Food Banks in BC & enjoying delicious food together
Cost: Purchase by-donation grab 'n go breakfast & lunch bags

What: Harvest Fest 2016: Tastes of South Vancouver
When: Thursday, October 6, 3:30pm - 6:00pm
Where: Fresh Roots Farm, SW corner of David Thompson Secondary
Why: To enjoy stone soup & veggie skewers, participate in 3-legged races, carve pumpkins, compete in the community dessert contest, take home freshly-pressed apple cider

What: KPU Commercial Beekeeping Info Session
When: Saturday, October 15th, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Where: The Honeybee Centre, Surrey BC
Why: To find out about BC's first certificate program in Commercial Beekeeping
Registration Required: Click here to sign up on the electronic form
Cost: FREE

What: Restaurants for Change
When: Wednesday, October 19
Where: Burdock & Co, Cabrito, Farmer's Apprentice, Jamjar
Why: To support Community Food Centres Canada
Cost: Make a reservation to enjoy a meal at a participating restaurant (above)

Soil Celebration (UBC) and Food Matters (KPU)

In the next two weeks, there are a couple of really cool events happening!

UBC Soil Celebration

Location: UBC Botanical Garden (6804 SW Marine Drive / Vancouver - map)
Date: Thursday, March 5, 2015 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Cost: FREE

Join UBC Botanical Garden to celebrate the UN International Year of Soils! Learn about safe soils, the importance of soil to food security in BC, and the role soil plays in mitigating climate change. This event also kicks off the workshop season at the Botanical Garden.

Coffee, tea, and light snacks will be served. Wine and refreshments are available for a fee.

This event is free, but registration is required. For more information about the event or to register, visit their website here.

Food Matters: An Imperative Dialogue

Location: Kwantlen Polytechnic University (12666 72nd Avenue / Surrey - map)
Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2015 from 6:30 pm
Cost: FREE

Join the dialogue on farming, community gardens, accessibility, food waste, and food policy in Surrey and Metro Vancouver.

For more information, contact Mairi Lester or Deirdre Goudriaan. [PDF]

What's Happening in November

After a late summer and numerous weeks of unbearable (ha!) sunshine, it's back to the weather that we're known for: rain. If you're getting cabin-feverish, grab your rain gear and check out some of the events going on this month in and around Burnaby.

Did you know?

November is Diabetes Awareness Month. Today, more than 9 million Canadians live with diabetes or prediabetes, which is a condition that, left unchecked, leaves you at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. That's nearly 1 in 4 Canadians!

The number of people with type 2 diabetes is rising dramatically and it one of the most common diet-related conditions, next to obesity, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Rising obesity rates and increasingly sedentary lifestyles are two of the major contributing factors in the rise of diabetes cases.

Source: Canadian Diabetes Association.

Vancouver Winter Farmers' Market

Location: Nat Bailey Stadium, East Parking Lot (4601 Ontario Street / Vancouver - map)
Dates: November 3, 2012 to April 27, 2013 (Closed December 29)
Hours: 10:00 am to 2:00 pm each Saturday

Thought the start of winter meant the end of locally grown and made goodies?

The winter market hosts over 60 vendors -- nearly as many as the three main Vancouver summer markets combined! -- offers a range of foods, from local produce to homemade chocolate and maple treats.

In an effort to reduce plastic use at the market, please bring your own shopping bags.

For more information on the market, including transportation and parking at the site, please visit their website: http://www.eatlocal.org/

Food Swap Burnaby

**UPDATE: The November food swap has been cancelled. Keep your eye out for details on a potential swap early next month!**

Location: TBD
Date: November 19, 2012
Cost: $5 per person (based on previous events)

Trade your homemade, home-grown, or foraged creations with other participants!

Registration is limited for this event. The Evenbrite page for registration will be up in the coming weeks, so check back here or follow Food Swap Burnaby at the sites below. Details on the swap can be found through their Facebook page.

Follow Food Swap Burnaby!

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/foodswap.bby
Twitter: https://twitter.com/foodswap_bby

Curious about the event or want to know more about food swaps? Click here to check out our Feature post from July.

BC Seeds Gathering 2012

Location: Kwantlen Polytechnic University (8771 Lansdowne Road / Richmond - map)
Dates: November 9 to 11, 2012
Cost: $125 (Saturday) or $200 (Friday to Sunday), including meals

The Seeds Gathering is a provincial gathering of seed growers, savers, and activists. Small-scale seed growers, community leaders, seed networks, and young urban farmers from across BC bring their seeds to the Gathering to form a BC Seeds producer co-operative.

For more information or to register, please visit the Farm Folk City Folk website: http://www.farmfolkcityfolk.ca/events/bcseeds2012/

*Please note that attendance at this event is by registration only.

Call for Volunteers: BC Seeds Gathering 2012

The BC Seeds Gathering is a one-of-a-kind event bringing together seed growers and producers from across the province to share stories, experiences, wisdom, and knowledge.

BC Seeds Gathering 2012
When: November 9 to 11, 2012
Where: Kwantlen Polytechnic University (8771 Lansdowne Road / Richmond - map)

BC Seeds Gathering is seeking volunteer videographers to record keynote speeches, panel and roundtable discussions, and other activities at the gathering in order to make this content available to those unable to attend and to the general public.

Volunteers should be experienced videographers with access to gear to record sessions and activities over the three days.

In exchange for their time, volunteers will be provided free admission to all events, meals and snacks during the gathering, and honoraria to key volunteers.

If you are interested in participating, please contact Tallulah of FarmFolk CityFolk at (604) 730-0450 or send an email.

To download the full volunteer posting in PDF format, please click here. Note that Adobe Acrobat or another PDF reader is required to view the document.

For more information about the gathering, please visit the event website: http://www.farmfolkcityfolk.ca/events/bcseeds2012/